Council holds first readings on urban-setting designation ordinance and personnel pay changes including 3% raise for some staff

Kettering City Council heard first readings on two ordinances on Dec. 2: one addressing private water systems and urban setting designations (USD) to facilitate brownfield redevelopment, and another updating the city’s personnel ordinance, including a 3% wage increase for certain non-union employees.

Maggie, a city staff presenter, told council the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) can approve a USD in urban areas where groundwater will not be used for drinking water so properties with contaminated groundwater can be considered for future redevelopment. Staff said there are no current USDs in Kettering but anticipates one may be established for the former Cheerheart Cleaners property at 2659 Patterson Road; the proposed ordinance would help ensure groundwater in a USD is not used for drinking water purposes.

"Adoption of this ordinance will help ensure that no one uses groundwater from an area covered by a USD for drinking water purposes," Maggie said, and staff noted that most Kettering residents receive drinking water from community systems such as Montgomery County or Green County water systems.

Separately, Mrs. Smith presented a personnel ordinance in first reading that includes a 3% wage increase for non-union regular full-time employees and regular part-time employees in a specified pay grade, along with multiple position reclassifications and staffing adjustments across the law, finance, communications and parks departments. That ordinance is in first reading and will return for further consideration.

Neither ordinance was adopted tonight; both were presented for first reading and staff offered to answer questions in subsequent meetings.